Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was close behind with 21.4 percent of the vote, while Sen. Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson both carried roughly 11 percent of the vote.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush took the No. 5 spot.

The Polling Company’s Kellyanne Conway told the CPAC audience that 42 percent of the voters were students and a plurality of voters were between the ages of 18 and 25

Jobs and the economy were the most important issues for 52 percent of straw poll voters, while some 30 percent ranked national security most highly and only a smattering of voters valued social issues most highly.

Only 27 percent of voters said marijuana should remain illegal (with 40 percent supported full, untaxed legalization), and strong majorities were opposed to government collection of phone call data and interventionist foreign policy — facts that might help explain the libertarian Paul’s win.

The question remains: Does the CPAC straw poll matter?

Some were quick to dismiss the poll well before the results were even announced.

As National Journal noted, the CPAC straw poll winner more often than not winds up not getting the GOP presidential nomination (though in the cases of Mitt Romney and Ronald Reagan, they won the straw poll several times and were passed over in the party nomination before becoming the GOP nominee in a later election cycle).

On the other hand, Paul’s supporters have touted his two prior victories in the CPAC straw poll as evidence of his strong grassroots appeal, and reports circulated Saturday that Bush was trying to rig the poll by bussing in supporters — reports that likely wouldn’t hold water if the poll was truly meaningless.

“Every year serious candidates come to CPAC and organize and get people to come here for the specific purpose of voting for them in the straw poll,” Citizens United President David Bossie told the Hill. “Does it at the end of the day really mean anything that you can have the money and an organization to bus people in? Probably, because that means you have money and an organization. It’s important.”

Sons Of Liberty Riders RC: Young Libertarian supporters show up CPAC and the Pauls. Libertarians can win straw polls but it yet to go mainstream with some of their wacky views. Like wearing C.A.I. R. Buttons..